“At least let her enjoy her breakfast in the dining room,” Pickmore argued.
“Nonsense,” Kilsyth argued. “A dining room is not necessary for eating. I’ve taken a number of my meals at my desk and it’s not harmed me yet.” Then the turned to Eve. “I daresay, Miss Doyle, I expect you to take many of your meals in here save supper.” He frowned. “I’ll need to assure myself of your manners and etiquette. We cannot let one simple matter be overlooked.”
Anger rose. “I assure ye dat me manners and etiquette are quite proper, Lord Kilsyth. I may have been reduced to livin’ in a rundown set of rooms on the edge of Seven Dials, but I was raised on a wealthy estate.”
“Yes, well, I’ve yet to witness much ladylike behavior and until I do, I shan’t be confident that you know how to comport yourself in any setting, even one as simple as dining.”
Eve balled her hands into fists and gaped at him. Oh, if it weren’t for the necklace, she’d walk right out the door.
“If you achieve success earlier than anticipated, we might add additional studies.” He paused in thought. “Egypt perhaps. It seems to be all the rage since the army relieved Napoleon of the items he plundered and they have since been given to the British Museum.”
“Yes, an excellent idea,” Captain Pickmore agreed as he leaned forward to refill his tea. “Did you know that your neighbor, two doors down, a Lord Edgeworth, has come into possession of several antiquities from Egypt, including a mummy.” Pickmore chuckled. “He has them on display in his home.
“Does he now?” Kilsyth asked in interest. “I’ll need to free time in my schedule so that I might also study this collection.”
It was on the tip of Eve’s tongue to ask why anyone wished to keep a mummy in their home, but she held her silence.
“Miss Doyle might enjoy the outing and artifacts as well,” Pickmore suggested in conversation with Kilsyth as he stood and as if she was no longer even in the room.
“Miss Doyle can visit once we’ve presented her at the ball and not a moment earlier, Pickmore. I’ve already given her more latitude than intended,”
Eve locked her jaw to keep from yelling at her newguardianas she watched him leave the library with Captain Pickmore. At the click of the door, she dropped into the chair and stared out the window. “Just ye wait, Kilsyth, just ye wait. I’ll do yer biddin’, for now, but in a month, the necklace will be mine and I’ll be gone.”
Chapter 7
“Pickmore, please find Mrs. Peade and have breakfast delivered to Miss Doyle.” Henry started for the door. He needed to be away from his house and gain some composure before all was lost.
“Me?” he asked in surprise.
“I need to go out,” Henry answered only to realize that he wasn’t properly dressed to leave the house, then headed for the stairs.
“Where are you going if I’m to findyourhousekeeper?” Pickmore called from behind.
As he wasn’t certain of his destination, Henry didn’t answer. He simply needed to be away from Miss Doyle to gather his thoughts. He’d quite lost control of the conversation a few times, and she’d bested him. That hadn’t happened in a very long time, so distance was necessary to prepare for the next time they were in the same room.
“Will you be riding, taking the carriage or walking?” his valet asked.
Henry thought for a moment. “Riding.” After all the talk about horses and races, he was of a mind to enjoy Rotten Row. The exercise would do him good and take his mind from Miss Doyle’s expressive eyes, bow lips, golden hair and how the lavender bodice molded her breasts. He’d kept the thoughts at bay during their discussion, but they wavered in the back of his mind continuously and must be dealt with quite expeditiously.
Further, he must be very careful not to touch her again, no matter how inadvertent.
His fingers had tingled when they brushed against her hand. Tingled! And, every part of his being became acutely aware that she was not only a beautiful woman, but desirable as well.
Nothing of the like had ever happened to him before, and he’d need to make certain that it didn’t ever happen again. This unexpected attraction to his ward had put Henry on edge, and he’d not enjoyed the loss of emotional and mental control that he was accustomed to, which was quite disconcerting.
Yes, he’d been harsh with her, but it was necessary. He was her teacher, her guardian, and he wouldnotcome to care for her. Henry just simply wouldn’t allow it.
Miss Doyle thought him mad and quite possibly he was. While she argued about Ascot, he wanted to kiss her. If he hadn’t brought an end to the bargaining, who knows what else he would have agreed to?
He was her teacher, guardian and absolutely nothing else would come of them. He’d make certain of that.
In a flash, breeches, boots, waistcoat, riding jacket, cravat, gloves and a hat were produced as Henry shrugged out of the clothing he’d donned before going downstairs this morning. He hated being all trussed up when he was only going to be in his library, but as he would be out amongst thetonand might encounter his mother, it was best to be put to rights.
It would be good to be out in the fresh air and perhaps the frivolous and inappropriate thoughts that had fluttered through his mind would be swept away.
Except, his mind still held the image of when Miss Doyle stepped into the library, her golden hair swept back, clean of any grime from yesterday. He’d nearly sucked in his breath at her beauty. The lavender gown fit her better than it should, and Henry had no idea such a goddess was hidden beneath the rags she’d worn the day before. Her hair had fallen across her shoulder and one curl in particular had settled on her breast, and thus began the most inappropriate thoughts. Frankly, he’d been too stunned that he’d almost forgotten to stand at her entrance, which was unlike him and had his mother been present, he would have received a scolding such as he’d endured during childhood.
Perhaps he should forgo Rotten Row and visit his mistress. After all, it had been nearly a month since he’d last seen Harriet. And, he probably should see how she was getting on. After a tumble or two, Miss Doyle shouldn’t affect him in the least and then Henry could concentrate on teaching without any inconvenient thoughts or physical reactions.
